Modi government working on new policy to increase lifespan of national highways by 20-25 years

The

Modi government

is set to finalize a policy that will enable the strengthening of aging

national highways

through a technique called ‘

white-topping

‘, which aims to extend their lifespan. The primary focus will be on rehabilitating flexible, or asphalt, pavement, which makes up the largest and most crucial component of the aging national highway network.

According to an ET report by Yogima Seth Sharma, the ministry of road transport and highways is currently seeking feedback on a draft policy that outlines the technique, its advantages, and the criteria for selecting national highways to be rehabilitated.
India’s national highway network currently spans approximately 146,000 kilometers. “As India is building more and more two-, four- and six-lane national highways and expressways, the quantum of aged assets is increasing which warrants rehabilitation to extend its life further,” a senior government official explained to the financial daily.

Although there are various techniques and treatments available for strengthening flexible pavement, India has chosen to implement the thin white-topping technique, according to the official.
Thin white-topping involves constructing a concrete overlay with a thickness of 100-200 mm on top of an existing in-service bituminous pavement. While this technique is widely used in developed countries, it has yet to be implemented on a large scale in India.

The official said that this method is expected to prolong the pavement’s lifespan by 20-25 years, has lower life-cycle costs compared to bituminous overlay, is durable, and causes minimal disruption during the process.
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Moreover, vehicles traveling on concrete roads consume less fuel than those on bituminous roads, potentially leading to fuel savings and reduced carbon emissions.
Concrete’s relatively light color also makes it more reflective, absorbing less heat and mitigating the urban heat island effect. The improved reflection of vehicle lights enhances safety and reduces the energy required for external lighting, the official added.
Recently, the ministry instructed the

National Highways Authority of India

(NHAI) to prioritize upgrading existing national highways due to growing maintenance concerns. Following this directive, the

NHAI

will undertake 79 national highways (original) projects covering approximately 1,421 km at an estimated cost of Rs 1,44,392 crore during this financial year. Of this total, Rs 71,112 crore will be allocated to NHO1 projects, while Rs 73,280 crore will be spent on NHO2 projects.
NHO1 projects focus on the maintenance, repair, and minor upgrades of the original national highways. In contrast, NHO2 projects often involve more extensive upgrades and modernization of the original national highways, with the goal of increasing capacity, improving safety, accommodating higher traffic volumes, and enhancing overall efficiency.